Michele, your Mountain Goats mix is rocking my world. Thanks! Now I have to go back and read your liner notes again.

Whoo, horns are up! Glad you're liking it, Kate.

Joe, I'm going to reiterate here that you ought to download "My Favorite Things" from that mix. Don't make me have to come over there.

My Powerbook has stopped recognizing my iPod, so I'm on the list to see a "genius" this evening. I feel certain, somehow, that this will all end with my rationalizing the purchase of a nano.

I'd really like to pick up the new Neil Diamond, but it's one of the dreaded Sony copy-protected discs that put evil things on your computer, so I'd prefer not to give them one red cent of my money.

I know I could buy it and just not play it on my computer, but that's not what I want to do these days. Or I could just download it from iTunes, but I like having the actual CD and packaging.

Sony can kiss my rosy red ass, damn it.

The local "classic rock" station (WARW, for those of you in the DC area) is doing a "cool covers" weekend, which is part "huh, didn't know they covered that" and part "dear God why?". (with an occasional "WTF?" like the Aztec Camera cover of Van Halen's "Jump" a la "Sweet Jane")

with an occasional "WTF?" like the Aztec Camera cover of Van Halen's "Jump"

There was a short version of that and a long version. The long version tagged on a ridiculous feedbacky guitar thing at the end that added a whole other layer of hilarity to it.

I only pop into this thread a few times a year--I really should threadsuck everything and copy-and-paste all the great recs y'all post. (BTW, thanks for sending me the buffistarawk info, Hec! I'll be checking into it this weekend.)

Before I start with the threadsucking, though, can anyone recommend an interesting/good/favorite Christmas album? Anything from classical to classic holiday music is welcome. My current favorite Xmas albums are the Roches We Three Kings and the ever-popular Time-Life set.

It's hard to go wrong with the Phil Spector Xmas album.

Before I start with the threadsucking, though, can anyone recommend an interesting/good/favorite Christmas album?

I'm planning on posting at least three different xmas mixes on Buffistarawk when we get closer to December, Kathy. So do check in occasionally.

As for immediate recommendations, there's a good Motown xmas set. The classic Atlantic Soul Christmas. For originals, I really love the 5 Chinese Brothers Window Shopper's Christmas.

But I'll be posting an uptempo fun xmas mix, a bluegrass/folk mix and a Merry Fucking Christmas mix (for people who need to fend off the holiday spirit). If I'm feeling ambitious I'll also post my Power Pop Christmas and my Beatnik Exploitation/Jazz xmas mixes.

I'm planning on revising last year's Christmas mix so I can give it as gifts around the office. Unfortunately, I can't do this until JHymn gets updated for iTunes 6.0 (because I'm making more than seven copies).

Around my mom's place it's Christmas music 24/7 from the First Sunday of Advent til the last package is opened. I think half her CDs are Christmas music.

But I'll be posting an uptempo fun xmas mix, a bluegrass/folk mix and a Merry Fucking Christmas mix (for people who need to fend off the holiday spirit). If I'm feeling ambitious I'll also post my Power Pop Christmas and my Beatnik Exploitation/Jazz xmas mixes.

Ohoh-uhuh (or a delighted quiver) to that whole paragraph.